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Almost all the steps he walked were followed by a drop of painful tears. Of course he wouldn't walk so fast because the sand was too much on the ground, he slowly moved his steps, engrossed in deep sadness. A confused sorrowful man walking towards his mother's house in the slums. Though he was barefoot, he couldn't feel his feet burning in the hot sand, he only felt the strong heartache. Slowly he raised his arm and nocked the door of his mother's house. "I am coming!" A woman's voice is heard from inside. She opened the door with a graceful look but suddenly the look disappeared after she saw him. His eyes red and swollen from his grief, he couldn't even speak a word. He just silently looked on the cracky floor. A slight heartache crossed the woman's heart but she stood still staring at him and trying so hard not to reveal any sad emotions on her face, her lips mildly pursed she turned away from him and walked a few steps away from the door, heading back inside the tiny sitting room. He hardly walked few steps in the house and sat in a nearby woody chair. "What is it? I told you not to show your face in this house again." She spoke, still turning away from him not wanting to stare at his sad face. "I am sorry mother." He finally opened his mouth to speak remorsefully. Emilia turned to him and stared at him pointedly. "You chose that slat over your own mother!" She raised her voice. "Do you have any idea of how hurt I was?" "I am so sorry." He said repeatedly. "Speak whatever you want to speak then leave my house." She told him boldly. "Today I decided not to take the overtime, I wanted to go back home early and take a good rest because my body was really aching from the tough job in the factory. When I got in the room, I caught her cheating on me with some rich guy.................... *** Brian was punching an unknown rich guy inside the room. Berenice quickly got up from the bed and started dressing up. The rich guy ran away after he was severely bruised. Brian turned to Berenice as he glared. She was so frightened as tears formed in her eyes, she had never seen him that angry before. He furiously walked towards her and slapped her hard on the face. "How dare you do that to me? After everything I have do for you? I half killed myself with two tough factory jobs just to support you, why do you always take all my sacrifices in vain? Why?" He scolded, his body trembling in anger as he frowned. "I am so sorry Brian!" Berenice cried. Brian threw everything that was close to him. He then gripped her arms. "You're hurting me Brian!" She cried, his grip was so powerful. "I have always known that you're an ingrate but this time you went too far! I have loved you ever since I was a teenager, I roamed in the city for two good years trying so hard to get a good job and create a future with you. When didn't I send you money? Tell me when didn't I? Oh of course it was so little to satisfy your unreasonable demands! Mother was right about you, you're a slat Berenice! You're a stupid woman! I finally give up on this nonsense!" Berenice was just crying as she listened to him. Brian glanced at the amount of money that was on top of a drawer next to the bed, it was what the rich guy gave to Berenice. He walked towards it, he took it and began counting it. "A million?" He smirked. "Brian..." She called worriedly wondering what he was about to do. He walked out of the room as he held the money. "Where are you going?" She followed him. He took a match box and a bottle of kerosene. "Brian what do you think you're doing?" She asked in panic. He walked outside, put the money on the ground and poured kerosene on it. "No, you can't!" Berenice tried to rebel, he pushed her and she fell on the ground a few steps away. He lit a match stick and threw it on the money and it began burning. "No, no, no!" Berenice cried then ran closer and watched the money burn in panic. Brian bursted into laughter confusingly. Berenice turned to him, wiped her tears and glared at him. "That money was for six months rent!" She raised her voice. "Which you're not capable of providing." She added. He clenched his jaws as he frowned. "Now you're going to lose both the apartment and I." He told her. "No, I am going to lose my apartment. You won't be a loss, you're a burden!" She raised her voice. Brian slapped her face. "A burden? I have been paying your rent ever since you moved in here." He told her. "How dare you?" He asked. "You have never given me anything yet I gave you my whole life!"   "Too bad it was and never will be enough!" Berenice replied. Brian clenched his fists as he frowned at her. "The minute I let that rich guy in the room, I was ready to let you go! I pity your pathetic life Brian, I don't want to be part of it anymore, enough is enough!" Berenice yelled as tears formed in her eyes. Brian couldn't believe what he was hearing at that moment. "Wha- what?" "I can't deny that I loved you, but the older I get the more I don't see my future with you! It's better this way." She told him and then walked out on him. Brian's eyeballs were restless, stopped clenching his fists, his heart bled. He turned and faced her. She just got in the apartment and slammed the door. Brian ran to the door confusingly. "Berenice open the door!" He cried repeatedly as he hit the door. Berenice had leaned on the door in the inside, she slowly fell down and began sobbing her heart out. Brian similarly fell on his knees as he sobbed his heart out. *** Emilia watched his son sobbing his heart out as he sat on the wooden chair. She just wiped the tear drop and walked towards him and hugged him. "I warned you countless times, why couldn't you just listen?" She sadly asked. "In my heart, it was only her ever since I was sixteen." He said in a painful tone. "I tried so hard to keep her." "Just let it all out." His mother allowed. She stroke his hair, holding him close as she stood next to him. Damn you Berenice! She gritted her teeth. Few months later... This is not the end yet, I will eventually bloom out like a flower. Even though I was born in the slums, I will never allow myself to be poor forever. I am just twenty three years, I will fight for myself to the end against all odds. Berenice thought ambitiously as she planted maize in her grandmother's farm after she moved to the province. Memories of being thrown out of the apartment few months ago, made her jaws clench. She still wanted to live in that town but since she had promised herself never to return in the slums, she thought it was much better for her to go back in the province. In a calm evening, Brian was taking a walk around the beach. He stared at the ocean waves thoughtfully, putting his hands in his empty pockets. His muscular chest was uncovered. "I love you so much." The voice of the sixteen years old Berenice ringed in his heart. He remembered her happy face back then, her red beautiful lips smiling at him delightfully, her natural long eyelashes, her moderately large eyeballs. Her eyes were so cute, she was the most beautiful girl in his eyes. How did she change so much? He shook his head quickly, trying so hard to get her out of his sad mind. She is the last thing I want in my life right now. I will just pretend you're dead to me. I don't want your name out of my lips again. His eyes suddenly blinked after encountering some flash light. He turned to see where it was coming from, he saw a young lady taking photos with a camera. He turned away from her after a quick stare. "Um... excuse me." She heard a cheerful voice from behind. Before he could turn, she was right before him. "Yes?" He replied. "Can you please take photos of me with my camera?" She asked. "Well... that is if you can." she added. "Um... sure." He took the camera. "Thanks" she cheerfully said and moved steps back. She began making cute pauses as he took photos of her. Few minutes later, she walked to him. "Thank you so much. I wouldn't want to waste more of your time." She told him. "Ah....it's okay." Brian said after shaking his head in denial. "Really?" She asked. "Um... I think they're enough though so I will just take a picture of you then I will freely give it to you. That's how I want to express my gratitude." She told him gracefully. "No, no, no, it's okay don't worry." Brian said. "Oh no, I insist." She took the camera and moved steps back. "Really, there is no need." He said but she was already taking photos of him. She went to show him the photos. "So, which one would you chose?" She asked. Brian sighed softly. "Well... any." He told her uncertainly. "By the way, I am Helena, a photographer." She gladly introduced herself. "Oh, nice to meet you." He said politely. "You're not going to tell me your name?" She asked disappointedly. "Oh I am disappointed." "Brian, that's my name." He replied quickly. She smiled at him. "Well, a part from my job as a photographer, I honestly love adventure so sometimes when I am free, I get to places like these and take pictures and all." She explained happily. "Oh, sorry I am telling you all these unnecessary stuffs." She said after noticing that Brian was just silently looking at her. "Um... It's not unnecessary." Brian told her, forcing a smile on his face. "Well, if you want to get your photo please come the day after tomorrow, right here." Helena told him. "Nice to meet you Brian." She winked at him then walked away. Brian just stared at her then chuckled. He shook his head and walked away too.            ****